Five TAFE NSW students graduate to new careers in wood design

Above: Atheera Jacobs in her workplace in Auburn, NSW

Five recent graduates from TAFE NSW Lidcombe and TAFE Coffs Harbour all led different lives before pursuing a career in furniture design. Here’s some background to their journey to a new future.

Sarah Tang

From Marrickville in Sydney’s inner west, Sarah Tang took a bold career pivot in her late 20s from a demanding career in allied health. With no prior experience in woodwork, she enrolled in a Certificate IV in Furniture Design and Manufacturing seeking a life where creativity was at the centre. Over the duration of the one-year course, Sarah built up confidence and mastered new skills, completing two standout pieces of work that clearly signified her success.

Sarah Tang with the two of the pieces she created while at TAFE NSW this year.

“My partner encouraged me to find something I really wanted to do. I’ve been collecting furniture for myself and sourcing secondhand furniture for 3 or 4 years. When I saw the previous cohort’s end-of-year projects, I thought there’s no way I could do this. But the training was amazing, and I now have two finished products – a 1m x 1m statement piece light, and a sleek and simple bench that can also double as a coffee table. I’m currently building my brand online and hoping to resell furniture and make my own furniture. It’s daunting, but I’m doing something I love.”

Eddie Richards 

With a solid background in cabinetmaking, Eddie Richards @eddierichards2, brought plenty of experience to the course. A graduate from the first cohort in 2023-2024, Eddie used the Certificate IV to explore new materials and techniques. He’s now working as a technical assistant in a Sydney high school and taking on commissions as he continues to build a name for himself.

Already a qualified cabinetmaker, Eddie Richards wanted to extend his design skills.

“I studied industrial timber at school and thought I’d be a carpenter, but I got a cabinetmaking apprenticeship in a company that makes tables and solid timber. I saw what was possible and what the industry had to offer. In the Cert IV course I made a cabinet with wavy doors, and I designed and built a big chaise lounge. I really like bendy plywood and the possibilities you can achieve with that. Through the course it furthered my knowledge on what you can do with this material, and it was great having time to experiment, explore and learn. One day, I’d love to have my own furniture brand and collaborate with different people and see where it takes me.”

Atheera Jacobs

At just 21, Atheera Jacobs from Condell Park is looking to carve out a name for herself in the world of furniture design. Atheera was among the first to graduate from the new Certificate IV course, having previously completed a Certificate III in Design Fundamentals. Her curiosity led her to the course and her talent quickly flourished. Now working at a joinery business in Auburn and building her own home workshop, Atheera is laying the foundations to one day build her own furniture brand and is tracking her journey on TikTok @toolboxandtiaras.

“At the end of last year, I started to build my own workshop in my garage. The goal is to one day have my own furniture company”, says designer maker Atheera Jacobs.

“I had no history in wood design, but I wanted to give it a go. I was learning so much in every single class. Being around a group of other students who were all learning was great, and I learned a lot from them too. My main project was designing an armchair, a cabinet and a charcuterie cheese board made with camphor laurel. They all had different influences. For my armchair, I wanted something with a cool side profile—something sleek and wide. The cabinet was inspired by the ocean – curves, colours, and layers.”

Steve Winn

In his early 60s, after decades in the corporate world and several short courses in woodworking, Steve decided to pursue his long-held interest in woodworking. He enrolled at Lidcombe TAFE and found a community of makers and mentors who helped him bring his ideas to life. He went on to create a series of stools crafted from timber and recycled plastic, reflecting his thoughtful approach to design and sustainability.

Steve Winn with one of the stools he has designed and made from wood and recycled plastic.

“I’m a mature-age student who came into furniture design later in my working life. I spent a large amount of time working in the corporate sector, but I always had a passion for timber and making things, I just never had the time to pursue it. Since I finished, I’ve been spending two days a week at a workshop in Tempe. I’ve expanded and built on the techniques and skills I learnt at TAFE, made more stools and I’ve recently sold three. It’s given me a creative outlet, purpose and ticks many boxes. With woodworking, you become so engrossed in the process that you enter a flow state and become really focused. It’s meditative and a great way to slow things down."

Tom Kelly

Tom Kelly and his wife live in the house he grew up in, built by his dad in Urunga on the NSW Mid North Coast. Inside their home, filled with many memories, are new pieces of handcrafted furniture that Tom has built, including beds, bedside tables and an epic 12-seater dining table – pieces they’ll cherish for years to come.

Furniture by Tom Kelly @tomkellyfurniture

“Since graduating, I work two days a week as a Technical Assistant at TAFE NSW and two days a week with Bim Morton at Tree-O Furniture Gallery in Raleigh. I spend a day a week working in my own shed, on my own jobs. My orders include custom bed frames, dining tables, bedside tables, and kitchen bench tops. I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to take on interesting projects and make long-lasting one-of-a-kind furniture.”

The Certificate IV in Furniture Design and Manufacturing is offered at TAFE NSW Lidcombe and Coffs Harbour Education Campus. Find out more here